Painter & Decorator in Sheffield

The role of Painter and Decorator is based in the Building Maintenance Team, part of the Engineering & Maintenance (E&M) section of the Department of Estates and Facilities Management. You will provide a reactive and planned maintenance service operating in a busy, fast paced environment across the University’s campus. The primary focus of the role will be the scheduling, co-ordination as well as the practical elements of painting and decorating, however you also have the opportunity to support other maintenance functions as required.

The majority of work is of a physical nature and requires manual handling ability to carry equipment across campus, the ability to use ladders when required and the dexterity to undertake a range of work tasks to ensure a good decorative finish. A technical knowledge of current decorating best practice techniques is essential. The ability to follow work procedures and instructions, to use your own initiative, and to manage your own and your team's workload in order to undertake the effective decorating activities of the estate, ensuring jobs are completed in an effective, high quality and timely manner is a key element of the role.

As a visible uniformed representative of the University a professional, customer focused attitude is essential as interaction with students, staff, visitors and members of the public will be an important part of this role. The University’s estate contains a varied range of properties which present their own challenges.

Main Duties And Responsibilities:

• Support the building's managers in scheduling and planning painting and decorating activities in their areas.
• Support and schedule your team's activities to ensure all buildings are maintained to the highest standards.
• Carry out planned painting and decorating across the whole campus, which will involve driving University owned vehicles between sites, completing jobs safely, following relevant procedures correctly, and ensuring work is completed on time.
• Complete individual maintenance activities (i.e. small refurbishment works), usually in occupied buildings, giving consideration to maintaining access and security whilst minimising disruption.
• Ensure works are progressed effectively including ancillary duties including shelf bracket, pin and noticeboard removal and replacement to ensure a professional finish.
• At all times, carry out work in compliance with the University’s policies and procedures as well as current technical legislation and health and safety standards.
• Prioritise jobs in order of urgency as directed by the appropriate supervisor, drawing upon depth of knowledge, skills, experience and expertise to deal with the job in hand.
• Make decisions on the methods to be used and the sequence of actions.
• Liaise with contractors who are working on University premises to ensure they are carrying out work in accordance with required timescales and University health and safety standards, as directed by the appropriate supervisor.
• Liaise with and maintain good relationships with key contacts in University departments to let them know about work being undertaken and keep them up to date with progress.
• Responsible for reporting stock levels of consumables to enable planned and reactive maintenance to be achieved.
• Maintain provided tools, equipment and vehicles, taking responsibility for the safe keeping of these.
• Complete regular checks on vehicles to maintain good condition.
• Respond to requests for assistance at the University outside normal working hours in accordance with the departments’ call-out procedures.
• This role is included in a formal on-call rota to provide emergency responses across the University Estate.
• Participation in this rota will be determined by the University in accordance with the on-call provisions.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification:

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Essential Criteria:

• Have an industry recognised qualification such as City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Painting and Decorating (Course number 6707-33), or equivalent experience.
• Specialist knowledge of building practice and procedures, including experience in current decorative best practice techniques.
• A working knowledge of current Health and Safety legislation relevant to the job role and the ability to apply this knowledge in day-to-day work.
• Experience in using access equipment such as MEWPS, ladders, scaffolding etc.
• Experience of working effectively and professionally in a busy environment, demonstrating a high standard of customer service.
• Ability to prioritise and respond to changing and sometimes conflicting demands effectively.
• Ability to competently assess and organise resources, plan and progress work activities within deadlines.
• Responsible for checking, organising and progressing planned work on handheld devices.
• A willingness and the ability to support the team by undertaking out of hours work when required.
• Experience of teamwork with the ability to demonstrate positive contributions to the day-to-day work and the goals of the team.
• Responsible for collection and distribution of materials to and from different external outlets, loading, unloading as required across the university campus.
• Experience of using a range of IT systems such as Google applications, Microsoft Word and Excel, email, and electronic calendars.
• A full and valid driving license.

Job Details:

• Grade: 4.3
• Salary: £25,804 rising to £26,707
• Work arrangement: Full Time
• Duration: 35 hours per week
• Line manager: Building Maintenance Manager
• Direct reports: None

What We Offer:

• A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; Professional Services Shared Skills Framework.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies support for those going through the menopause paid time off and support for fertility treatment and more.

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Closing Date: 03/07/2026